Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
This study assesses the performance of intercropping Glycine max (Soybean) and Moringa oleifera under alley cropping in Abuja, Nigeria during the 2014 and 2015 cropping season. The field experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The replicates contained five plots each, separated between blocks by 1 m pathway and 0.5 m within the blocks. The plot measured 5.0 m × 4.0 m each. Thus, a total of 15 (treatments) plots were used. Results showed that total nitrogen, like all other elements observed, significantly reduced during first cropping season (0.03%) but improved significantly at P<0.05 (0.07%) after the second trial except Sodium. Sodium concentration reduced to 0.38 Cmol-1 in Glycine max/Moringa inter crop plots of 50,000 stands of Soybean and 10,000 stands of M. oleifera in 2015. Highest Soybean seed yield (0.68 tha-1) in 2015 cropping season and Maximum Land Equivalent Ratio (23 and 68% more yield in 2014 and 2015 respectively) were obtained from 50,000 Soybean stands + 10,000 stands of M. oleifera. The intercropping showed positive relationship between the two plants in terms of yield and the improvement of Nigeria Guinea Savannah soil fertility through organic biomass.
Key words: Alley cropping, fertility, Moringa, soybean, yield.
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